Writing
✿ＳεℓＥcＴ c𝐋𝐈𝐩ร ✿
Melissa primarily writes about gender, power, and culture, but considers herself a curious generalist; her advanced degree is in investigative reporting and she adores a rabbit hole.
There Is No Void Where Abusive Male ‘Geniuses’ Once Stood || Los Angeles Times
The Rise And Fall Of The Tankini || The Goods (Vox)
There Is No Other Way To Say This: On Carolyn Forché’s What You Have Heard Is True || Longreads
If You Want To Try To Protect Roe Vs. Wade, Do It Now || Los Angeles Times
James Rickman Leads Playboy In The #MeToo Era || California Magazine
How ‘PEN15’ Gets Middle School Girls Right || The Lily (Washington Post)
Gen Z Can Save Us, If We’ll Let Them || Los Angeles Times
Why Platform Sneakers Might Be The Ultimate Winter Shoe || FASHION Magazine
The Democratic Debate Confirmed It — We’ve Entered The ‘Bernaissance’ || Los Angeles Times
Post-Paparazzi: The Celebrity Photo In The Age Of Instagram || Pressland
Defund the Sheriffs, Too || The New Republic
L.A. Is Broken. The 'People's Budget' Would Finally Do Something To Fix It || Los Angeles Times
Why I Ran For the First Time In 2020: Q&As With Democratic Female Candidates || Series, Shondaland
The Women Who Want Marianne Williamson To Be President || InStyle
‘Fleabag’ Is A Funny TV Show. It’s Also A Master Class In Grief, Change And Growth || The Lily (Washington Post)
Roe Vs. Wade Is On The Stand. Could A Grassroots Movement Save It? || California Magazine
Facebook Is Awful And Only Getting Worse And I’m Never Leaving || Los Angeles Times
20 For 2020: Q&As With Democratic Presidential Candidates || Series, Shondaland
For Sexual Assault Survivors, The Kavanaugh Confirmation Is A Hell Made Of Ice, Not Fire || Los Angeles Times
Trulia, Love Of My Lives || Architectural Digest
All I Want For Christmas Is The Godforsaken Spammers To Stop Calling || Los Angeles Times
How Do You Accidentally End Up Running A Pet Cemetery? || Atlas Obscura
For Hollywood Women, The Most Exclusive Invite Of The Year Isn’t An Awards Show — And It Takes Place In An L.A. Living Room || InStyle
Building The Muscle: A Conversation With Kristi Coulter || The Rumpus
The Biggest Sin On ‘The Bachelor’ Isn’t The Age Difference || The Lily (Washington Post)
The Rumpus Mini-Interview Project #149: Susan Orlean || The Rumpus
White People, Be Like Ed Skrein. Stop Apologizing For A Lack Of Diversity And Do Something About It || Los Angeles Times
The Summer Of Lana Del Rey || The Rumpus
How Recreational Marijuana In California Left Chemists In The Dark || The Verge (Vox)
What Natural Disaster Can Teach Us || Los Angeles Times
Stop Publishing Unverified Information, You Numbskulls. Donald Trump Feeds On Your Rumors || Los Angeles Times
Dear Media: When You Cover Death By Suicide, Do It Thoughtfully || Los Angeles Times
ENOUGH: That Too Is An Ordinary Story || The Rumpus
Sandra Bland, Philando Castile And Now Charleena Lyles. Scream Their Names For All To Hear || Los Angeles Times
Can Cities Save Our Reproductive Rights From The Grabby Hands Of Donald Trump? || The Nation
Peter Thiel Is Almost Definitely Behind This Mysterious 'Heterodox Science' Course || Broke in The Verge (Vox). Follow story here
We Can Learn From The Orlando Attack, But Only If We're Willing To Be Brave || Los Angeles Times
Elegy For An Imagined Country || Los Angeles Times
Turning The Mirror Back On Donald Trump || Los Angeles Times
Forget Melania Trump. The Republican Party Platform Is the Circus We Need To Watch || Los Angeles Times
Millennials Are Having Less Sex Than Any Generation In 60 Years. Here’s Why It Matters || Los Angeles Times
Bono, Pass The Mic || BRIGHT
Hey, Nonprofit Offices. 1985 Called And It Wants Its Taupe Walls Back || BRIGHT
Call Me A Coddled Snowflake, But Trump's Fetish For Nukes Is Infinitely More Terrifying Than His Other Outrages || Los Angeles Times
One Group Is Responsible For America’s Culture Of Violence, And It Isn’t Cops, Black Americans, Muslims, Or Rednecks. It’s Men || Los Angeles Times
Harassment Case Stresses UC's Shortcomings || Broke in the San Francisco Chronicle, online and in print on the front page. Radio interview here. Follow story here
The Evolving Obituary || Pacific Standard
Community Mourns Loss Of Oakland Artist, Shot Dead While Painting A Peace Mural || Oakland North
Mars On Mars: An Interview With Artist Stella Maria Baer || The Morning News
Sixty, Sober, And Starting Over || Oakland North
The Generalist: An Interview With Author Robert Sullivan || BKLYNR
Many more pieces available upon request.